Health Information Management

Health Information Management

Health Information Management (HIM) is a diverse yet evolving field that incorporates medicine, management, finance, information technology and law into one dynamic career path. Through our flexible, online program, we’ll train you to design and oversee health information systems while ensuring that they meet medical, legal, and ethical standards. You’ll also learn to improve efficiency in health care facilities with medical coding (ICD-10, PCS and CPT) along with billing and reimbursement methodologies. HIM professionals also protect and control the security and quality of records as well as supervise data entry and related personnel. The HIM program curriculum also includes: clinical information requirements; data collection, data retrieval, release of information, health information content and structure; legal requirements, as well as HIM professional standards.

Is the Health Information Management program for you?

Do you enjoy technology and analyzing data? Are you looking for a way to make a difference in health care? Do you have a passion for protecting the integrity of patient records? If you are meticulous in your attention to detail, and have good analytical skills, Health Information Management may be the career for you!

To be successful as an HIM student, you must have good reading, writing, time management and study skills. Course materials, group activities, class discussions, and interaction with the instructor are primarily conducted via the internet, and it will be important for you to be familiar with emailing, creating and editing documents, and using discussion forums. If you’re not sure if online courses are for you, try our online readiness quiz.

When you’re ready to get started with your program prerequisites, just apply to Lane! Our Admissions Office staff will guide you through the steps to enroll to get you started right. You can also contact Admissions with any questions you have about the college, to schedule a tour of the campus, or just to say hello. If you’re not ready to apply today, you can request more information on the program and we’ll get in touch to make a plan that works for you.

What will you learn in the Health Information Management program?

Through our online courses and on-site internships, you’ll learn to: 

  • Engage in critical thinking, problem solving, and effective human relations skills related to health information management
  • Evaluate principles of healthcare privacy, confidentiality, legal, ethical issues and data security
  • Apply quantitative and qualitative methodologies to process healthcare information
  • Explain healthcare delivery systems and regulatory environments
  • Utilize healthcare billing, coding, and reimbursement guidelines
  • Integrate knowledge of healthcare terminology and medical conditions
  • Identify principles of leadership and management in HIM

Applying to the Health Information Management program

To enroll in some of the HIM classes, start your Co-Op internship, or complete the degree or certificate, you must submit an application for the program during our twice-yearly application process.

Lane Community Colleges Health Information Management Program has been offering an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree since 2017, in addition to our 1-year certificates. We became fully accredited with CAHIIM in Summer 2020. Each year we have been increasing our number of AAS graduates. Since our program is a complete-at-your-own pace program rather than a traditional cohort program, students may take courses part-time while fully employed, or may drop out for one or more terms and return later to complete their degree.

Our latest statistics, for the academic year 2019- 20, are as follows: Graduation rate: 22.58%; retention rate: 31%; rate of academic transfer to a 4-year university: 14.3%; a known employment rate of 85.7% within 6 months, and an unknown employment status of 14.3%.

View the AAS Program Guide

What can you do next?

As experts in patient health data management, HIM professionals work in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, physicians’ offices, home health care agencies, ambulatory health centers, long-term care facilities, public health offices, government agencies, and insurance companies.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for medical records and health information technicians (with certificates and AAS degrees) was $40,350 in May 2018. The top 10% of earners can bring home over $66,000 per year! Job growth is expected to be high, at 11% from 2018 to 2028. With additional professional development, you may be able to move from health information technician to health information management roles.

Health information management jobs (for those with Bachelor’s degrees) are expected to grow faster than average. This field is expected to increase by 18% from 2018-2028 nationwide, with an estimated 71,000 additional jobs within the field. Median salary is around $54,900 in Oregon.

Personal attention from engaging faculty

Lane offers students the best of both worlds: a wide variety of courses to choose from and small class sizes. At Lane, you’ll never take a class with more than 40 students, and your class will always be taught by an instructor, not a grad student. Because of our small class sizes, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know your instructor on a first name basis. Our attentive faculty have real world experience, and they bring those experiences to the classroom! Health Information Management is fortunate to have an active, engaged Advisory Committee to help keep faculty informed of changes in the field, and needs in the community. 

Get to know the Health Information Management faculty and advisors

The faculty and advisors for the program can help you meet your career goals. They can answer any program specific questions you might have, and help you find opportunities outside of the classroom. Advisors will help you schedule your classes and plan for the future. You’ll work with them to create a term-by-term planner that meets your needs and goals to ensure you complete your degree. And if you’re planning on transferring to a four-year school they can help you take the classes you need to count towards your bachelor's degree.

Get real world work experience

Employers are interested in more than just your degree. It’s important that you’re able to show that you have relevant, real world work experience. As a Health Information Management student, you’ll have the opportunity to complete at least one, three credit Cooperative Education internship through a partnership with a business or organization in your community. Many students even continue on to paid employment at their former internship site.

Attending classes at Lane

Lane’s main campus is tucked into the foothills of the Oregon Cascades, providing a stunning landscape for your education. With incredible resources on campus like advising, tutoring services, the library, and so many more, you have the opportunity to make the most out of your degree. Lane also offers student housing at Titan Court in downtown Eugene, next to our Mary Spilde Center. Ready to learn more? Schedule a campus tour to explore our beautiful campus and amazing facilities.